Void Beast Box Set

by Matthew Jones

  What in the… Kyo turned and crouched, ready to shred anything that touched him.

  Hold your ground, TJ replied, ready to take on as many as he could.

  However, as the zombies sped towards them, their hazed gaze pushed past Kyo and TJ and fell on the Ravagers who now cowered behind them. One by one the zombies pushed past the shifters, not paying any mind to them at all. TJ looked over at Kyo who looked extremely confused. They stepped out of the huge group and watched as the zombies pushed and pulled at the Ravagers. They lifted them high into the air and began marching them away from the scene. The zombies moved in unison, almost as if they were under some kind of spell.

  TJ put his hand in front of Kyo to stop him from following too closely. Kyo, before shifting back into his human form, pressed his paws against TJ's bleeding arm, to heal the injury he endured when he fell into the pavement. After his wounds had closed and the movement came back into TJ’s shoulder the two set out, following the horde of zombies far enough behind to not be detected. They crept through the city and into the woods where they watched from the edges of the bushes as the zombies gathered in a clearing.

  Kyo and TJ sat quietly in the bushes listening to a voice coming from the hoard of zombies, shocked that any of them could talk. They listened intently but couldn’t make out what the voice was saying. Then, after a pause, the voice became louder, and the two shifters didn’t move a muscle.

  “I know you are out there TJ,” the voice shouted. “It’s not nice to spy. Come on out.”

  The voice laughed a little and TJ nodded at Kyo. The two emerged from the bushes and stood staring at the group of zombies. Their eyes were fixed on the Ravagers, but they stood as still as stone. Movement from the center drew the shifter’s attention, and the zombies moved to the side as one slowly emerged. The air from TJ’s held in breath released as Denise appeared. He hadn’t seen her since she had fled the Gutierrez compound that fateful night. Her hair was silvery and flowing, and her eyes were gray like the zombies. However, she didn’t have the morbid appearance of the other zombies.

  “Denise,” TJ said bringing her into an embrace. “I wondered what had happened to you.”

  “Hold that thought,” Denise said as she turned back to the Ravagers. “You have one last chance. Tell me who sent you.”

  The Ravager growled slightly at Denise as her face was only inches from his. The silence of the woods was deafening, and Denise sighed, stepping back towards TJ. She signaled in the air to the zombies whose eyes turned to the Ravagers and a look of hunger came over them. The next few moments were hard for even Kyo and TJ to watch. As the howls of pain came from the Ravagers, the zombies attacked, tearing them limb from limb as they drug the two off into the woods. Once out of sight Denise turned back towards TJ and smiled.

  “It’s so good to see a friend,” she sighed. “Being surrounded by these idiots all day is exhausting.” She motions towards the few remaining zombies still standing entranced in their positions.

  “I have so many questions,” TJ replied. “But I don’t feel comfortable here. Will you come with us back to our compound? We will all be safe there.”

  “Of course,” she said reaching out to TJ’s outstretched hand. TJ grabbed onto Kyo and teleported the three of them back to the mansion. As they appeared in TJ’s father’s office the wind from the teleportation blew the papers on the desk into the air.

  “Wow,” Denise said looking down at herself now in the mansion. “That’s kind of cool. You probably should have used that when you were trying to save me…just saying.”

  “Yeah,” TJ said chuckling. “Well, I didn’t know I could do it until recently.”

  “Ahh,” she said looking around the office and grabbing a piece of paper floating through the air. “Nice place.”

  “Thanks,” TJ responded. “So, tell us. What is going on? Why are the Ravagers here and what is going on with these zombies?”

  “I can control them,” she replied nonchalantly. “After I left the compound I knew there was something different. I have these powers that are superhuman. I was walking along, not long after I had escaped, and was attacked by a hoard of zombies. I freaked out and the powers just kind of took over. I realized that I could control them, tell them what to do.”

  “So you’re a necromancer,” Kyo said stunned. “That’s a very serious power.”

  “You’re telling me,” she replied chuckling. “But I can’t control all the dead. I think it has something to do with the virus. I haven’t figured it all out yet. I was in the middle of trying to get ahold of these powers when Ravagers started attacking me. One after another they just appeared, and I had to fight them off. I’ve been trying to figure out why.”

  “Why did the zombies attack us then?” TJ asked.

  “They weren’t supposed to,” Denise replied. “It was a trap for the Ravagers, but I didn’t account for shifters. So, when you guys showed up, the zombies just assumed. They aren’t the brightest. I fixed it though, now they won’t attack shifters.”

  “We appreciate that,” Kyo said laughing.

  “That’s an impressive power you have,” Denise said looking towards Kyo. “Healing others is an awesome addition. Though I might be weary of that one,” she said motioning towards TJ. “He has a tendency to get himself tied up.”

  “Ha Ha,” TJ replied watching Kyo stifle a laugh. “That was the old me. You’ll be surprised what a little training and some friends can do for you.”

  “I’m sure,” she replied. “But finding fellow necromancer zombie people isn’t an easy task. I’m kind of on my own with this one.”

  “You haven’t come across any other shifters have you?” Kyo asked referring to McKenna.

  “No,” Denise replied. “But I stay hidden with the Ravagers showing up every time I leave the woods.”

  Kyo and TJ suddenly stopped their conversation and walked over to the doors leading outside. The pack sent a feeling of tension through the air, and quick movements stirred their wolf senses. Something was going on outside. They looked out the sliding glass doors and watched as the others scurried from the training ground.

  We’ve got company, Kyra said telepathically.

  I know you’re in there little pup, come out come out.

  Denise grabbed her head and looked down at the ground, her gray eyes starting to shimmer blue. She heard the voice just as TJ and Kyo had heard it. TJ put a hand on Kyo’s shoulder and nodding, the sound of Yasenia’s voice sending shivers through his spine. Denise’s head shot up, and a confused look covered her face.

  “How?” she asked TJ with anger.

  “I don’t know,” TJ said trying to keep control of his emotions. “But I’m going to find out, and then I’m going to kill her.”

  Chapter 17: The Hooded Figure

  TJ, Kyo, and Denise ran out into the front yard and joined Kyra and Wagner standing at the front. The five of them stood looking out in shock at Yasenia and a group of Ravagers standing on the other side of the fence. Yasenia looked different, and she no longer wore the spandex skin that once kept her alive.

  Wagner, Kyra, this is Denise. She was the girl the Doctor had captured. She was the one who killed Yasenia, at least we thought.

  Wagner and Kyra nodded at Denise who couldn’t hear their conversations but assumed they had been told. She nodded back, her eyes burning bright blue and her fists clenched together as she stared out at the Ravagers. She quickly realized Yasenia was behind the attacks on her. Feeling a bit of tension, Denise began to tap her hand against her chest, sending blue streaks of light into the sky. The others looked up at the sparkling blue lights that resembled the Northern Lights from long ago.

  “What is that?” Wagner asked Denise.

  “It’s my signal to the zombies,” she replied not breaking her eye contact with Yasenia. “If she wants a fight I am going to give her a fight.”

  “What do you want, Yasenia?” TJ shouted as the Ravagers began to howl wildly. “We have nothing for you here.�
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  “Her,” Yessenia screamed. “I want Denise.”

  The shifters turned and looked down at the small girl, her magical ora swirling around her. Kyra reached down and put her hand on Denise’s shoulder and looked over at TJ. TJ nodded, not needing words to communicate that they weren’t sending Denise out there alone.

  Wagner, stay here with the other shifters. Protect them. She can’t get through as long as your magic remains intact.

  Wagner nodded in agreeance. TJ turned towards the others.

  “Kyra, Kyo, and I will accompany you out to face Yasenia,” TJ said out loud to Denise.

  “No,” she responded. “This is my fight.”

  “If you remember correctly,” TJ said with a smirk. “It was my fight until you went and stole the glory. We do it together.”

  Denise smiled slightly and turned her gaze back to Yasenia who had quieted the howling of the Ravagers. TJ took in a deep breath and picked up his hammers. The four joined hands and TJ teleported them out of the safety of the mansion yard and to the other side of the Ravagers. Yasenia made her way through the wolves to the front and smiled coyly at the Shifters and Denise.

  “How did you become a Shifter?” TJ asked Yasenia, smelling the distinct waft of a wolf on her skin.

  “Now, you don’t think I’m going to go spill all my secrets do you?” She replied with a smirk, snapping her fingers. “You remember your old friends, right?”

  The Ravagers parted slightly as Blaze and Torrent emerged from the crowd, fully dressed in armor and growling from behind Yasenia. Kyo howled loudly at the sight of Wrex’s men, remembering the dead shifters strewn across the camp. TJ put his hand on Kyo’s shoulder to calm him.

  “So, it’s Wrex behind all of this, I knew it” TJ scowled. “I guess it’s true that when you are scum, you find the worst to follow.”

  “Hahahaha,” Yasenia laughed off the insult. “You stupid dog, I don’t follow anyone. Wrex knows but he isn’t the ultimate force behind this. Too bad I’m going to kill you before you figure it out…it’s brilliant.”

  Kyra growled and crouched into a fighting stance, the ice of her powers forming along her paws. TJ shifted quickly into his wolf form, knowing his human was too frail for a fight of this magnitude. Denise stepped forward, bursts of blue light shooting from her fingertips.

  Tsk, Tsk, Blaze said smiling as she pulled someone from the group of Ravagers. Don’t be stupid TJ. Or McKenna here won’t live to see your death.

  Blaze threw McKenna’s beat up and bruised human body on the ground. She landed on her knees and looked up sadly at TJ, her hands tied behind her back. She was so weak she couldn’t even shift into her wolf. TJ blocked his mind from everyone except his shifters and pushed through Denise’s human shields to get her the message as well.

  I’ll get McKenna. Kyo and Kyra, you handle the Ravagers. Denise, can you take Yasenia?

  It would be my pleasure, Denise replies, a small smirk moving across her lips.

  Now!

  With that, TJ lunged towards Blaze and Torrent, swinging his hammers high in the air. Blaze sends out a giant fireball but misses as TJ’s left hammer comes down hard on Torrent’s shoulder. Torrents powers clash with the energy of the dark matter hammer, and it sends a wave through the air, knocking most of the Ravagers from their feet. Kyo and Kyra take that moment to pounce, tearing the throats of the Ravagers from their necks. Yasenia laughs and steps forward as Denise sends a hoard of zombies that just arrived in her direction.

  One by one Yasenia cuts through the zombies, almost quicker than Denise can send them to her. Ice magic flies through the air crashing against the skulls of the Ravagers. TJ continues to battle Torrent and Blaze at the same time. With one crushing blow to the head, Blaze is left unconscious on the ground. TJ stands back up, energy radiating from his body, his Void Beast completely kicked in. He looks at Torrent as he throws his hammers to the ground and pulls a black swirling orb from his chest. He steps in front of McKenna and tosses the ball at Torrent’s feet. Torrent screams out to the other wolves as the swirling black hole emerges, sucking several Ravagers in at once. TJ struggles to create blockades while picking McKenna up in his arms. As soon as he has her and the others are far enough away, he shuts the black hole with a burst of energy.

  The blast of energy sent Torrent spiraling through the air, taking down several ravagers like a bowling ball. He hit his head hard on the ground and groaned, unable to get up from the heap of bodies he landed on. Yasenia growled in TJ’s direction but was inundated with zombies. TJ looked down at McKenna who wearily smiled up at TJ, bruises covering her face. She had been tortured by these monsters after staying behind to save the pack’s life. Anger flew through TJ, and as he was about to turn around and send a blast of dark matter in Yasenia’s direction, he caught Wagner in his sight. He shook his arms trying to get his attention.

  I’ve got McKenna, I'm going to get her to safety, TJ yelled out to the others.

  He turned McKenna in his arms, towards the gate where Wagner stood on the other side. He took in a deep breath mustering the energy of teleportation when he felt a hand on the back of his neck. The hand burned against his fur covered skin and his knees buckled underneath him. He looked up at Wagner whose face had gone pale and turned towards the figure behind him. McKenna fell from his arms and hit the ground hard as TJ’s wolf shifted away leaving his frail human form in the hands of this mystery being. He couldn’t see anything more than a gold mask, and a hooded cape as his vision began to diminish. Before he fell completely unconscious, he heard the stranger’s words:

  Finally, I have gotten you.

  As TJ’s unconscious body hit the ground, a flash of magic shot through the gate and Wagner appeared before the figure. He burst him with a spell sending him spiraling through the air, hitting Yasenia on the way down. He picked up TJ and headed for the gate.

  Get out of here, he shouted to the others.

  Kyo dropped the dead Ravager from his grasp and raced over to McKenna, cradling her in his arms, and following Wagner. Kyra ran to Denise’s side and mustered up her powers, sending an ice storm directly at Yasenia and the Ravagers. Simultaneously, Denise sent a massive hoard of zombies into the icy tundra before turning with Kyra and heading back behind the safety of the magic.

  Wagner checked TJ, who was still alive but not awakening from whatever the masked figure had done. On the other side of the gate, the ice slowly cracked and fell to the ground. Yasenia stood surrounded by dead Ravagers. The masked figure disappeared from behind her into a cloud of ash, and she stepped forward staring directly at Denise.

  “This isn’t over,” she said through gritted teeth before turning and running off with the pack of wolves.

  The frosty air swirled around the pack as they changed back to human form and watched Kyo kneeling over TJ, trying his best to bring him back. He ran his paws feverishly over TJ’s motionless body and looked up in despair as nothing seemed to work. Kyra turned and stood next to Kyo, putting one hand on his shoulder and nodding. Clouds gathered over the yard quickly, and the shifters turned to Denise who was gazing up, eyes burning blue in their sockets. Her magic moved from every part of her body as anger exploded from her, churning the clouds above their heads. Wagner reached out and grabbed her wrist, afraid she may go too far. She let out a deep breath and looked at Wagner in kindness, nodding her head in understanding.

  From the distance the sound of Ravagers wailed through the air, leaving a silent anger simmering in the chests of the shifters. War was coming, they could feel it, but this time they had no idea what to expect.

  Chapter 18: Silence

  A silence reminiscent of that heard after walking back to the mansion from the camp where many of their pack perished, fell over the mansion and its grounds. The shifters began to gather on the training field, taking a knee for TJ, who they were waiting for news of. Denise sat quietly in TJ’s father’s study, staring at the pictures on the wall, thinking about Yasenia and how she had risen from
the dead. Denise’s eyes still glowed bright blue as she replayed the events from the encounter over and over in her head.

  Kyo sat quietly at the dining hall table, healing small cuts and bruises that peppered his skin. He had focused too much on healing McKenna that he hadn’t taken the time to take care of himself. There was a spark of anger brewing inside of him, something that usually stayed hidden beneath his young, docile exterior. He looked up at the ceiling, knowing above him was McKenna, sleeping safely, healed as much as Kyo could heal her. He learned that day that injuries left unattended were very difficult to heal and that his powers focused on fresh wounds. The pain of healing was almost unbearable for McKenna, and she begged Kyo to stop and let her rest.